The Starting.....

 The One Who Runs With The Wolves

Feminism has been quite a crucial topic in every culture, religion, country and tradition of the world. Its where equality among men and women is strived for. But, is it really an ideology practiced or just a hypothetical thought? Will it ever be true especially in a gender based disparity country like India where men still earn more than women or have a greater horizon of opportunities and privileges in an overtly rooted patriarchal society?

Throughout international history, everyone yearned for democracy; nevertheless, it was a different war for the females. The 'She' not only had to fight for democracy but also as women and for their gender. In countries like France, while men got already political advantages, the women finally got the right to vote in 1946. 

What do you think the title "The One Who Runs With The Wolves" means? Who do you think 'One' refers to? Its actually the women. This rat race or, as we would like to call it, the Wolf race of this world where men compete for their superiority, has started involving women who are not the wolves but just Queens of the competition. How? In olden times, where females overall were kept at home for household chores, were financially dependent on men. Gradually, males became erratic in terms of the financial and emotional support which eventually withdrew. It was time that women became independent- financially, emotionally and personally. That is why, in metropolitan cities like New York, Delhi or Gurgaon, women are running with the wolves to keep up with their own welfare. 

Last week, my mother was watching a Netflix series called the 'Bombay Begums' (rated 18+). She narrated me the entire synopsis; it was an insightful and meaningful display of four women in a metropolitan city and how their overworked lives were intertwined as females. I still remember a caveat from the protagonist portrayed by the commendable artiste, Pooja Bhatt-"Womanhood is a survival battle, no matter wherever you go in this world." Then why does the title say 'Begum'? It is an Urdu word for women who live their life on their own terms; there shouldn't be absolutely an rule book or bible that states what women are obliged to do, except look after their karmas (actions) just like men. Moreover, the Bhagvad Gita conveys that irrespective of gender, all you need to look after is your dharma and be wary of the sins committed. The title of the first episode of this series was 'The One Who Runs With The Wolves'. This is what inspired me to write this article.

The other day, I watched another movie on feminism called Moxie. I guess, Moxie means the groove and confidence for females to stand up for their rights and speak the unspoken. In this, a girl anonymously starts a movement on feminism called Moxie, in her high school. In the film, whenever there would be a sports athlete competition, always a boy would win. What is that? Is that somehow fair? Can't a girl be better than a boy in sports?! Do boys have insecurities that a girl could play better basketball?

Parents invest so much time in grooming their daughters and how to create security for themselves. However, why isn't this much time spent in educating a boy about respecting women and to teach them that a female is not an object? There is an enormous loophole in the education curriculum, globally. I opine that boys should be taught about feminism from a young age itself so that girls wouldn't have to be constantly wary of the gender-based rampant crimes or always need saving as damsels in distress. This fact is greatly assented by the exceptional actor who starred in Netflix Ludo, Pankaj Tripathi, a staunch feminist who always encouraged his wife and daughter. In a newspaper article, he said that in the initial years of his career he had a trough so he was solely dependent on his wife's earnings. He adulated the amazing superpower capabilities of a female; despite womanhood being a survival battle, it heralds a natural-occurring ability for us to multi-task everything that comes our way. Before, women were wives, mothers and daughters confined to a single room. But now they can be successful entrepreneurs as well as caring moms. Their perseverance, physical endurance for the miracles that are created in them and their mental strength makes them live Goddesses around us. 

The 'Begum' of my life is my mother. Undoubtedly, she has toiled hard for the happiness, prosperity and growth of her family. In addition to this, the feature that makes her personality further appealing is to speak for herself and cherish every moment of life with her own, independent terms. Not only her, but my teachers are the 'Begums' of my life; they  have been pillars of strength. These are some of the women who have been running with the wolves of this world with grace and elegance.

Nonetheless, do you think these women are part of the pack or the leaders? Who do you want to be- the pack or the outstanding? (answer your opinion in the comments section below)

 Well, as for me- I want to be a Begum .What About You?